Racket.



C. W. HUTCHINSON.

RACKET.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1915.

1,179,435. Patented Apr. 18,1916.

CHARLES W. HUTGHINSON, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

RACKET.

Application filed June 12, 1915.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. HUTCH- INSON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rackets; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

This invention relates to the subject of tennis rackets, and has specially in view an improvement in the net portions of rackets and the means for attaching the same to the frame of the racket, so that the net portion may be readily removed when necessary or desirable.

The improved tennis racket comprises in its general organization an improvement in the net portion of the racket, by means of which said net portion is carried by a supporting frame and from which any or all of the strands of the net may be readily removed or replaced and novel means whereby said net supporting frame may be detachably connected with the racket frame or head so that the entire net portion may be readily removed or replaced when desired, the connection between the head of the racket and the supporting frame being such that it is at all times accessible.

A simple and practical form of the improved tennis racket has been shown in detail, partly broken away, in the accompany ing drawing.

The improved tennis racket, in so far as its general appearance is concerned may be as usual, consisting of the handle 1 and the oval-shaped head or frame 2. At the junction of the head and handles, a reinforcing inset is provided, such being designated generally by the numeral 3. The head of the racket is provided with regularly spaced openings 4 that extend transversely therethrough, the outer end of said openings be- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Serial No. 33,645.

tion of adjusting nuts 10 that seat within the enlargements 5 of said opening 4 and bear upon the ledges 6 therein. As shown in the accompanying drawings, the disposal of the nuts and bolts is such that they lie within the frame 2 to prevent any protruding portions that might interfere with the use of the racket. The net portion 11 of the racket has been shown as formed of wire, the strands of which extend longitudinally and transversely of the frame 7 in crossing relation, although it is to be understood to be well within the spirit and scope of my invention to form such net portion of gut or any other suitable material. When formed of wire, the strands are simply hooked to the frame 7, but when formed of gut or other material any convenient means may be employed for tying the said strands to the net frame. The base of the net frame 7 is preferably attached to the reinforcing inset 3 by means of the screw hooks 12, the threaded portions of which enter the said inset.

It is preferred to employ nuts 10 in connection with the bolts 9 that are of the lugged type. as shown in that such may be readily manipulated to adjust the bolts by means of keys that engage said nuts.

It will be understood from the foregoing that by means of the net frame and its de scribed connection with the head of the racket, such net frame can be readily attached in operative position to the head, or readily removed therefrom, and in addition, the employment of the bolts 9 and nuts 10 provide simple means whereby the tension of the net portion may be readily adjusted.

I claim as my invention A tennis racket comprising a body frame, a net frame within the body frame, and bolts adjustably connected with the body frame, the bills of said hook portions being alternately extended in opposite directions whereby the position of the net frame may be centered with respect to the main frame.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee. in the county of Milwaukee and State of \Visconsin, in the presence of a witness.

CHARLES W. HUTCHINSON.

Witness M. E. DOWNEY. 

